title: Resonant excitation of precursor molecules in improving the particle crystallinity, growth rate and optical limiting performance of carbon nano-onions.
abstract: A catalyst-free and highly efficient synthetic method for growing carbon nano-onions (CNOs) in open air has been developed through the laser resonant excitation of a precursor molecule, ethylene, in a combustion process. Highly concentric CNO particles with improved crystallinity were obtained at a laser wavelength of 10.532 µm through the resonant excitation of the CH(2) wagging mode of the ethylene molecules. A higher growth rate up to 2.1 g h( - 1) was obtained, compared with that without a laser (1.3 g h( - 1)). Formation of the CNOs with ordered graphitic shells is ascribed to the decomposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into C(2) species. The optical limiting performances of the CNOs grown by the combustion processes were investigated. CNOs grown at 10.532 µm laser excitation demonstrated improved optical limiting properties due to the improved crystallinity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0511, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: X N
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D002244:Carbon